Sergio Ramos has been hit with a two-game suspension by Uefa for deliberately getting himself booked in the Champions League last-16 win away to Ajax earlier this month.
The Real Madrid captain was shown the yellow card in the final stages at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, moments after Marco Asensio had given Santiago Solari’s side a 2-1 lead.
The defender, who was one booking away from an automatic one-match suspension, was asked in the mixed zone after the game if he had got himself deliberately carded.
“Yes, the truth is that, looking at the result, it was something I had in mind," he said. "It's not to underestimate the rival. But sometimes you have to make decisions and that's what I decided."
Later, as talk of a possible more lengthy ban circulated, the defender wrote on Twitter: "I want you to know that it hurts me more than anyone. I didn't force the booking."
Dani Carvajal was given a two-match ban in December 2017 for what UEFA considered a deliberate booking against APOEL and that punishment saw the right-back miss the first leg of the last 16 last season.
Uefa have handed Ramos an identical suspension, meaning he will miss the Ajax game next week and also the first leg of the quarter-finals if Madrid advance on Tuesday.
